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Returning by boat to the misty village

Returning by boat to the misty village
(15th century)

Medium
ink on silk

Measurements
154.5 × 66.7 cm (image)

Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1955

Gallery location
Not on display

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Artwork Details

Place/s of Execution
China

Accession Number
3220-4

Department
Asian Art

This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation

Physical description
The river landscape is painted in the style of landscape paintings of the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1227) that was revived in Zhejiang in the 15th century of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) in the so-called Zhe school of painting. The rocks are done in the so-called axe-cut texture strokes that resemble woods being cut by an axe. The trees are depicted in spontaneous wet brushstrokes and mist is created by the blank surface of the silk creating a misty landscape. In the foreground we find fishermen’s nets and boat, in the middle ground, temple nestling in the hill and fishing boat and in the misty scene in the distance, a small boat with boatman and scholars.